A STM network 11 for temporarily storing input pattern vectors is formed
in Phases 1 and 2, and then layered LTM networks 2 to L are formed
successively by assigning output vectors provided by the STM network 11
as input vectors. In phase 4, a LTM network 1 for intuitive outputs to
which input pattern vectors are applied directly is formed by taking the
parameters of comparatively highly activated centroids among centroids in
the LTM networks 2 to L. In phase 5, the parameters of the comparatively
highly activated centroids among the centroids in the LTM networks 2 to L
are fed back as the parameters of the centroids in the STM network. In
phase 3, the LTM networks 2 to L are reconstructed at a particular time
or in a fixed period by giving the centroid vectors of the LTM networks 2
to L again as input pattern vectors to the STM network 11.